As you can see by the samples, completed projects make an adorable bulletin board too.

I’ve included several posters to add a bit of pizzazz to your display.

There are a few to use with the writing prompts, as well as two others that you can hang up with just the reindeer craft, if you opt to only do that.

There are a variety of “print & go” reindeer patterns to choose from.

Pick which is most appropriate for your students.

Younger children can simply do the reindeer craft.

My Y5s absolutely love glitter, so I often use it as a positive, behavior-modification tool.

(If you're focused and on task, when you complete your project, you get to visit the "glitter station"), which I manage. Keeping everything inside a copy paper, box lid, provides easy clean up with no mess.

That splash of red glitter really adds the "Wow!" effect.

Wiggle eyes are another way to add to the "cuteness factor". My granddaughter chose two different sizes, which added extra whimsy, so when I created the packet, I included several sizes of "eyeball" patterns.

You can see by the photographs, that the same reindeer takes on a whole different look, depending on the placement of the eyes.

Adding a sprig of holly, then bending the leaves up, provides a bit of 3D pizzazz; as does pressing on some flat-backed jewels.

To extend the craftivity, older students can practice their “point of view”writing skills.

Students pretend to be a reindeer, and think of something the animal might say if they could actually talk.

This is a lot of fun, which results in some really silly & hilarious chatter.

I've included three,"speech bubble" templates for you to choose from, as well as patterns with my completed samples, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.

Samples not only help explain things, but really are a catalyst for excitement.

Since older students don't get to do many "crafty" things, they are especially excited to get down to the business of writing, when you toss in a little art into the activity.

They also do a particularly fine job, when they know their work will be hanging in the hall.

For that "finishing touch", have students practice an AB-AB (red-green) color pattern, by writing with two different color markers, which really adds extra pizzazz.

For added fun, play some Christmas music while children work. My students often sing along.

I am so excited to share my latest place value craft that I just finished.

As you know, studying place value can be a bit tedious for some students, so I designed this "decorate a Christmas tree" craft, to put some “Woo Hoo!” into practicing place value.

Creating a super-cute PVT (Place Value Tree) is an especially fun activity for your students, and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do for the month of December.

Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable, and make an outstanding bulletin board or hallway display.

I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate.

You’re sure to get lots of compliments, as the results definitely have that “Wow!” factor, as mixing math concepts with an artistic twist is truly interesting.

The packet is very versatile, with lots of creative options for your students to choose from, which not only results in a nice variety of Christmas trees, but allows you to diversify your lessons.

A place value tree appeals to a variety of ages and abilities.

The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a Christmas tree that will have a two, three or even 4-digit number value!

Keep things simple for little ones and limit the number of decorative pieces and options, while challenging older students to create a bigger value for their trees.

The sample on your right uses "ones" blocks for ornaments, with a tree trunk made out of two, "10s" rods; giving it a total value of just 32. Perfect for students working on two-digit numbers.

The sample on the left, has a value of 769. This tree has no trunk (However, there are 4 trunk options to choose from), while the 1st tree, at the beginning of my post, not only has a 100-block trunk, but a decorative tree stand pot as well. Notice the "holly berry" is a ones block.

A 10s rod can also be a fun decoration. Make them look like a peppermint stick, by coloring an AB-AB (red-white) color pattern with a red marker or crayon.

Check out the last sample tree at the end of this article, to see how I made a 10s rod look like a candlestick, with a ones block glued on diagonally, for a "flame".

I had an absolute blast designing my samples, so I can safely say, that I think your students will also have a great time making their own place value Christmas tree.

Thirteen tree patterns, 4 stars and 2 angel tree toppers to choose from; plus endless ways you can mix and match the ones, tens and hundreds block ornaments, provides a lot of variety to your classroom's creations, making for an awesome display.

Once children have finished their place value tree, they figure out how much it is “worth”.

Solving this “mystery math” problem is also a ton of fun.

I’ve provided several worksheet options that will help students figure this out, as they practice and reinforce the various concepts of place value.

I've put a worksheet next to the matching tree in the photographs below.

Choose which worksheets are most appropriate for your kiddos.

Each of the 3 is different enough, so that you can do all of them.

"Showing" their math of how they came up with their total, and explaining any conversions that they had to make, is a simple way to assess comprehension too.

The half-page worksheet on the left, is great for practicing a variety of math skills associated with place value.

Picking a partner and comparing their tree with a classmate's, provides practice with "greater, less than and equal to", math standards as well.

A worksheet can also be part of your display.

Students can write their total on the star or angel tree topper, or so that the place value really shows up, you can run off the 6 different elf tags, for children to write their name and the value of their tree on; placing the tag next to their Christmas tree on your bulletin board.

I've also included several present patterns, if you'd like to add some gifts under the tree.

These are decorated with a ones block in the bow, a 10s rod on the ribbon, or a 100s block as a gift tag.

The trees look pretty with a black, blue or purple, construction-paper background, with the gifts glued underneath.

There are also several whole-group activities for graphing, data collection and analysis as well.

Another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVT in a small group of three, which will divide up the work and expedite completion.

Here’s a fun challenge: Give the small group a total tree value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Sweet Tweet"; which is an interesting and fun way for students to practice writing.

Students color, cut and glue the bird to the top of their writing prompt paper, then each day (for 10 days) they jot down (tweet) something sweet that they've done. (After all, Santa and the elves are watching & very interested in this information!)

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

'Tis the season for attending all sorts of activities, so time to go see the school Christmas play. Three of our 10 grandchildren are old enough to be in it this year.

Wishing you a delightful December, filled with many memorable and love-filled moments.

"Christmas, gives us time to pause and reflect on the most important things around us."-David Cameron

Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” is said to be one of the most famous American poems ever written.

Because of its popularity, easy cadence, rhyming words, and the fact that the poem is packed with over 60 Dolch sight words, I wanted to design a craftivity to incorporate into our reading activities, while covering the poetry genre and practicing the “sequencing & retelling” a story standards.

* A photo-poster of Clement Moore, * Background information on the poem, and * A copy of the story-poem, which you can read together as a whole group; calling on children to take turns reading a stanza. There's also * An “alphabetize Santa’s reindeer” worksheet.

If you do a "Christmas Around the World" ed-venture, this craftivity makes a nice addition to your travels.

The stable is the base of the booklet and is printed on card stock to make it sturdy.

Once the booklet is complete, it is free standing and makes a cute decoration.

The “doors” of the stable open, to reveal graphics of the major events that take place; from Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus.

Besides black & white patterns for students to color, cut & glue, I’ve also included colorful templates so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

There are several page options as well.

I’ve provided pages with text for beginning readers, as well as pages without words for younger kiddos.

You can also use these pages for older students, so they can write about what is happening and explain the graphic, or find a matching Bible verse to record on the appropriate pages.

To use for extra writing practice, I’ve also included a completely blank page.

On the back of the stable, students can write “Jesus loves me.” or “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

There are add-on graphics included as well: 4 star patterns for children to choose from, plus a cow & donkey they can glue to the back of the last, opened pages, so that when the doors are completely open, the animals flank the manger.

The "looking down" photo on the right, shows how the pages support the stable.

When everyone is done, read the booklet together as a whole group, calling on students to explain the various events taking place. Encourage children to sequence & retell the story of Christ’s birth to their families, as they share their nativity booklet at home.

Since my storytelling wheels have been so popular, I thought it would be fun to design one for the Nativity.

Great for parochial schools, Sunday school, Christmas Around the World activities, or simply for your own child.

Storytelling wheels are a quick, easy & fun way for students to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.

There are 3, “print & go” cover options to choose from. Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.

After students have completed their wheel, practice retelling the nativity story using the manipulative.

Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that Mary & Joseph, who are traveling to Bethlehem, appear in the “pie-slice window”.

Call on a child to begin the story. Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.

Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their nativity wheel with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older reading buddies. This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.

For more sequencing & retelling practice, I've also included a nativity puzzle . There are two "base" options, which will help practice ordinal numbers as well as reading.

For writing practice, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

There’s a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.

Woo Hoo! Having spent over 200 hours researching & creating, plus a small fortune on graphics designing things, I’m so excited to post this jumbo “labor of love”, "Travels Around The World"packet, which features the awesome talents of 38 clip artists!

This super-fun packet is extremely versatile, as everything stands alone, so you can mix & match creating a unit that is tailored specifically for your class, or use pieces and parts with lessons you already have implemented.

I think my students, favorite part of our Travels Around the World is making the cereal box suitcase, which can be done in class or for homework.

The sky's the limit of how you want to design them.

We add 2 file folders to make a drop down interactive "briefcase" of sorts, which includes a pocket for their passports, tickets and boarding passes.

The extra files are a great way to keep everything neat & organized and provide space for them to glue on a variety of activities that we do.

I've included a variety of maps, which come in color to use as posters, plus black & white for students.

They come labeled & unlabeled, so you can use them as an assessment tool as well.

My personal favorite activity, is the "Snap & Scrap"journal, with a Christmas-themed page, as well as a generic counterpart.

I've included several pages of interesting information about how each country celebrates Christmas, should you want to do the "Christmas Around the World"theme.

The "snap" part, is a camera craft featuring a lens "booklet", with pictures specific to that country.

You can opt to do just the camera(s), or hinge them with a piece of tape to the "scrap" page, so that it flips over to reveal the information underneath.

Each country also comes with factual information, which is incorporated in the "Fan Of Fun Facts For _________" craftivity.

The title is a double play on words, for the craft opens like a fan, and students quickly become "fans" of these super-interesting facts.

Later, check comprehension by playing "Name That Country?" by reading a fact and having students tell what country it came from.

"I Spy A Country" is another game you can play to help reinforce map skills.

Teachers jot down 3-5 clues on the poster, then students write down their dated-answer on their worksheet.

X number of correct answers and they receive a "super spy" stamp for their suitcase.

I've also packed in a lot of travel-themed writing prompts, such as making an itinerary, which provides a vocabulary building opportunity.

Students can also do a "Sightseeing Check It Out Then Check It Off" list, flag booklet, and travel journal.

There are several options for the travel journals as well, from a "color me" text it page, to a cut & glue class-made book.

They are different enough so that you can do them all, or pick & choose what's appropriate for your kiddos.

The beauty of this jumbo packet is that it's very versatile, so you can mix & match things to do individually, as a whole group, with a partner, in small groups, or for homework.

The projects can also supplement other geography activities you already have implemented.

Besides social studies, many items practice a variety of other standards like graphing, weather, telling time, comparing & contrasting & research, with a bit of math tossed in for good measure.

There are also a variety of ways to use the packet. Teachers can give the information, or students can pick a country and research it independently.

The "Travel Bucks" are a fun way for students to give their presentations, as they become "travel agents", who share highlights about their country, in the hopes that their fellow classmates will use their travel cash to buy a trip from them.

Top sales certificates & suitcase brag tags add to the fun, and are a wonderful incentive.

An easy-peasy writing prompt for any age, is the "ginger-gram", where students fill in the blanks with a country they would like to live in, as well as one they would not.

Older students can explain why.

Another simple writing activity is the "Travel Quilt"craft, which practices adjectives in a unique way.

Even younger kiddos can do this, and completed projects make an awesome bulletin board.

The "Peace is in our hands" craft, is also quick & easy, with lovely results making a terrific hallway display.

This craftivity really helps children wrap their heads around the "big picture" of their "personal geography" and their cut out hand prints add that keepsake, finishing touch.

I've included a poster for the center of your display, as well as a suitcase sticker kiddos can earn upon completion.

Because my kiddos are learning about seasons, weather and appropriate clothing to wear, I designed the "Pack It Up" suitcase craftivity; where they color, cut & glue various clothes suitable for a particular country, to a "suitcase" page; while older students simply list the items they want to take.

The suitcase opens to reveal several pages of the different things they packed for the various countries that they visited.

Besides a “Christmas Around the World”theme, you can use this unit all year long, as I have matching generic counterparts.

Start whenever you want, then in December, board the “Holiday Express” & add the activities of how these countries celebrate Christmas.

"Travel Tweets" are also an interesting way to get students enthusiastic about writing, as is the "Welcome To Our House"booklet, "Airport Adventures" and "Whooooo Do You Want To Travel With?" color-me worksheets.

Besides black & white versions for students, I’ve included colorful templates, so you can quickly make samples to share.

There are also graphs, Venn diagrams, posters, a song, and some worksheets, which can also be used as assessment tools.

As you can see there's a ton of fun for you to choose from including some puzzles.

These come in color for an independent center, as well as BW so kiddos can make their own, as they practice recognizing & sequencing numbers from 1-10, or skip counting by 10s to 100.

Today's featured FREEBIE comes from the packet and is a "Merry Christmas From Around The World"poster and coloring card, which includes an alphabetical list of how 28 countries say "Merry Christmas" , with 4 links to other websites with more countries.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

My feet have hit the floor running, as there is much to do, and not enough time in the day to get it all done.

But I will endeavor to slow my pace and enjoy the journey, making sweet memories, as we decorate our blessed home for Christmas. Wishing you and yours a special day.

"Welcome To My House" is an interesting and fun writing prompt with two door options. For one, students decorate their construction paper door, trim and glue the “hinge” portion to a sheet of white paper, which they also trim. The other, is a “color me” option.

Inside, students write their final draft completing the writing prompt: "Welcome to my home for Christmas..."

Encourage students to use plenty of adjectives that involve their senses, to help describe what a visitor might see, hear, and smell, as they enter their home. I've included a completed sample to help you explain the lesson.

Students who don't celebrate Christmas, can simply write a "Welcome to my home" for another celebration or holiday that their family celebrates.

If you do a Christmas Around the World theme, students can choose a country, and welcome visitors to their home in France, Sweden, Mexico etc. as they write from that point of view.

Completed projects make a lovely bulletin board. I’ve also included an address tag, to go along with your display.

In this story, the reindeer are not sick, as the tale starts at the beginning, before Santa thought about reindeer for the job.

Many silly scenarios are presented, as different animals try out for the job. From skunks, kangaroos and giraffes, to monkeys, mice and even snakes, your kiddos will get lots of ideas of who should pull Santa’s sleigh.

Finally, The Twelve Days of Christmas packet, also includes several writing prompts, as well as an emergent reader, plus several games, which practice a variety of standards, as well as some posters and worksheets.

The emergent reader contains over 100 Dolch sight words! Students read the sentence, trace and write the number and ordinal number word, then complete the writing prompts.

Besides the writing within the emergent reader, there are also 3 other writing prompts:

* “If money were no object, list 7 things you’d like to have”; * “A Favorite Gift” where students tell about a gift that they really enjoy and why it’s a favorite. * “Something Special For Someone Special” where children choose a person that they’d like to give a gift to and write who-what-why.

The featured FREEBIE today is "Me Mints!" one of my personal favorites.Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board. I've also included a smaller template, if you'd rather make a Christmas ornament.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I have so much to do, I'm not sure where to start.

A bit of housecleaning is certainly in order before I add any more Christmas decorations... hmmmm maybe I'll just go shopping instead. Wishing you a frolicking-fun day.

"Housework: Something nobody really notices, until you don't do it."-Unknown

I truly believe that if you give an interesting writing prompt to students, or toss in a bit of craftiness, or make it a bit like a game, you'll grab their attention and they'll want to get down to the business of writing.

With these things in mind, I designed 4, rather creative, writing prompt packets for December. First up is my "Spin a Winter Story Story" wheel.

These 14 story wheels are easy-peasy for you, as you don't have to constantly think up seasonal writing prompts, and highly motivational for your kiddos.

They incorporate those items into a short story or paragraph on the worksheet.

For more writing practice, I've included a "Spin a sentence" worksheet, as well as one where students spin 7 times, give those pictures a one-word name/description and then alphabetize those words on the worksheet.

Next up is "How to Dress an Elf", where children practice giving directions. My students LOVE the crafty aspect of this writing prompt; completed projects make a super-cute bulletin board too.

Encourage students to use transitions, ordinal numbers + adjectives when they explain how their elf gets dressed. I’ve also included a set of transitional words on mini cards.

For that finishing touch, we used opalescent white glitter, flat-backed jewels and pom poms to add a bit of pizzazz to our completed “elves”.

If your students enjoy The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, they're sure to get excited about this next creative writing activity.

Diary of a Wimpy Elfincludes templates to make a “top secret” file-folder diary, a variety of diary pages, clip art badges to decorate their diary cover with, plus a selection of incentive “stickers” that they can earn.

The packet includes an emergent reader, with several options for you to choose from, including 2 sizes.

The first one is a “cut & glue” the appropriate coin to the page, the other version already features a picture of the coin.

Students read the simple sentences, filled with 20 Dolch sight words. I’ve switched up the pronouns for that teachable moment as well.

They trace & write the coin words, as well as the values, and color words, then color the cookies accordingly.

I’ve also included a “Sum Cookies” craftivity, which makes an awesome interactive bulletin board, or wall display.

Children choose which cookies they want, then color, cut and arrange them on their aluminum foil “cookie sheet”. When they are satisfied with how things look, they glue their cookies down.

Using the “cookie key” or referring to the pocket chart cards, students figure out the price of all of the cookies on their cookie sheet, writing an equation showing the price of each cookie, then adding to solve the problem.

I’ve included a spatula to show their work, which is attached to their cookie sheet. When everyone is done, collect and number the cookie sheets, then display them, along with the spatula answers.

For more math practice have children figure out how much the various sheets of cookies cost, writing their equations and solutions on the worksheet.

Students can do one a day, or however many you want them to do. They check their work, by flipping up the spatula flap.

Finally, there’s a cookie matching game. Depending on ability, students simply match a cookie to a cookie.

Older kiddos can match a cookie with its value, to the matching coin card, and/or the coin word card.

There’s also a certificate of praise as well: “When it comes to coins, you’re one smart cookie!”

Today's FREEBIE also features coin identification. It's a set of poster-poems. I hope you find them useful.

Well that's it for today. All this talk of cookies, brought on the cravings.

Time to grab a mug of milk and dunk my favorite--chocolate chip . . . Wishing you a delicious December.

Do you do some gingerbread activities during December? Are you contemplating making a gingerbread house?

If so, I think you and your kiddos will really enjoy making a "gingerbag".

It's a non-messy, quick, easy & fun craftivity, as an alternative to the gooey graham cracker creations, that often fall apart.

There are 8 pages of candy, cakes and ice-cream trimmings, chimneys, doors, and windows, that your kiddos can choose to decorate their paper bag gingerbread house with.

Face the bag towards you so that the bottom of the bag is at the top, and looks like a flap. This is the perfect place to glue the “candy roof” and chimney.

Students cut out whatever pieces they want to glue to the front of their house.

They arrange the pieces ‘til they are satisfied with the look, and then glue them down.

Children then color the trimmings with crayons or markers.

White puffy paint, glitter glue, and stickers can all add pizzazz to the houses.

For that finishing touch, glue a child’s photo in one of the windows.

You can also spritz them with a bit of cinnamon fragrance.

For writing practice, I've included 2 worksheets, where students describe their gingerbread house.

Completed gingerbags make a cute bulletin board too. Caption: “Mr(s.) _____________’s kindergartners are wishing you a sweet and cozy Christmas.”OR…. “From our house to yours, we’re wishing you a yummy New Year.”